Ggantija Temples

Built about 5,600 years ago on the island of Gozo, the Ggantija Temples are one of the most popular destinations for visitors – and one of the world's oldest manmade religious sites still in existence today. They are astonishing not only for their age, but also because they were constructed at a time when neither metal tools nor the wheel had yet been known on the island. Just one of seven megalithic temples on Gozo and Malta, they were excavated in the early 19th century based on local knowledge of the site based on folklore.
The Ggantija Temples complex includes an altar, receptacles for fire and ceremonial flames as well as water offerings, and there is evidence that animal sacrifices were performed on site. While mythology posits that a giantess built the temple, today it is thought that a type of ball bearing feature was used to move the enormous stones into place – thus its name, which translates to “Giant's Grotto.”

Practical Info

The Ggantija Temples are located at Temples Street on Gozo and are open to visitors from 9am to 5pm. The price to enter the complex is €5. It is closed on Good Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.